Another high score before the preliminary (2-6)

Barça has won its fifth and final victory before the first official game of the season. Xavi, Eto’o (2), Marquez, Jeffren and Pedro scored the last goals of the North American Tour against the New York Red Bulls.

The team said goodbye to the United States with another high score against the New York Red Bulls, in the last preparatory game before the preliminary. The intensity of the Barça players in the first half made it difficult for the North American team to play. The 1-4 score line said it all. Or almost, as, apart from goals by Xavi, Eto’o (2) and Márquez, Guardiola’s men could have scored more. The second half was better balanced and in which the home team scored a goal that was then followed by two more from the Barcelona players.

Spectacular start

The long, dry grass of the Giants’ Stadium did not prevent Barça from playing fast, attractive football. They got off to a bright start and before the 23rd minute they already had the game tied up with three goals. The first was the work of Xavi, with his head: the no. 6 sent home a lethal cross from Alves on the right (17th min.). In the next move, the same Xavi sent a masterly pass through to Eto’o, who was unforgiving with the keeper Conway.

Maximum intensity

The game was focused on the Red Bulls area. The three strikers, Hleb, Eto’o and Henry were constantly on the move, and ran rings round the defence. But it was Márquez and not them who got the third goal. The Mexican headed a centre from Iniesta (23rd min.). Just after this they almost scored the fourth, but Henry’s shot hit the post.

Double for Eto’o

The New York Red Bulls got their breath back after half an hour, when Stammler made the most of a ball that got away from Valdés. This was an oasis in a first half dominated by Barça. Just before the break, Alves hit another shot against the woodwork and Eto’o finished off with the 1-4 after a spectacular one-two with Hleb. The score line could be considered short after what we had seen on the pitch.

The Red Bulls break the rhythm

Even though the rhythm of the game dropped considerably in the second half, Barça were still entering the penalti area with ease. Bojan, Henry and Pedrito tried at first, but it was the Red Bulls, through Rojas, who cut back the difference after an hour in play.

Two from the youth squad finish off

The result 2-4 did not come close to summing up what we had seen up until then and Jeffren (80th min.) and Pedro (84th min) stretched Barcelona’s lead with two shots from inside the area. This 2-6 is yet another show of the offensive potential of the team, a guarantee to help face Wisla Krkow in the preliminary of the Champions.